Owen Jacques is an award-winning investigative journalist from Mackay, now based on the Sunshine Coast as APN Australian Regional Media’s Online News Editor. He has a strong background reporting on politics, business and breaking news. Owen has also specialised in resources reporting, which included a successful campaign to fight 100% fly-in, fly-out mining in rural Queensland towns.

ALL pregnant women who present to Hervey Bay Hospital with a Body Mass Index above 40 are advised to transfer to a Brisbane-based facility or Nambour Hospital to give birth.

But nutritionist and health writer Honor Tremain said BMI was not a true indicator of a person's body composition and did not show the difference between fat and muscle.

"I don't feel BMI is an accurate measurement," she said.

Queensland Health's policy is for women who have a BMI above 40 - for example, 180cm tall, weighing 130kg - to be transferred to a hospital with a "level five" maternity service because regional hospitals are ill-equipped to deal with possible complications.

A Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service spokesman said Hervey Bay Hospital family unit's first priority was the health and wellbeing of mothers and the 1000-odd babies born in the unit each year.

"Any transfer decisions by maternity staff are based on concerns for the health and wellbeing of expectant mothers and their babies," he said.

"Pregnant women with a Body Mass Index greater than 40 experience complications that may affect their pregnancy.

"These complications can include high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, low birth weight or high birth weight babies, preterm births, and other health concerns for both mother and child."

Ms Tremain said it was highly offensive for a woman often already struggling with a changing body to be told her BMI meant she needed to give birth elsewhere.

She said it would be better for the government to have a program to teach woman how to eat healthily, rather than just label them obese.

Ms Tremain said BMI was only an indicator of the whole weight compared to height.

"I just feel like it's a very inaccurate tool to use," Ms Tremain said.